Brick machine mold trimmer



April- 241,l 194,2.

BRICKMACHIE MOLD TRIMMER F. M. ANTlBus, JR., :s1-A1.v 2,280,275

v Filed June 2l, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ill? iig; /4

lil's d JIL l April 21,'1942.4 P M. ANTnaust JR., Err/u. I 2.280.275BRICK MACHINE MCLDTRIMMERl Filed June 21, 1940 Sheets-Sheet 3 QN n31" ENVthe clay removingdrive mechanism;

Fig. 6; and i Fig. 8, a detail in front elevation of a clay PatentedApr. 21, 1942 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i g 2,280,276 y y sBRICKMACHINE Moto Titian/1ER Frederick M. Antibus, Jr., and Harry D.Caylor,

, Indianapolis, Ind., assignors to C.i& G. Potts &' Co., Indianapolis,Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application June 21, 1940, serial No.341,644

` 11 Claims.,

making machines and has for a primary object the incorporation with a.brick making machine means for removing surplus clay from the moldswhich has raised above the top edge of themold following `arnold'bumpingoperationQ A further working automatically in sequence with theInold- `ing operations.

A furtherimportant object of the invention isto provide a cutterwiremounted in a staf ticnary manner so that, by travel ofthe moldthereunder," the surplusl clay appearing above the top edges of themo-lds may be cut off by that wire. A still furtherl important object ofthe Y inventi'onist'o provide means which will automatically receivethat removed Vclay and carry it Iaway from the molds and deposit it atone side of the `machine out cf the Way of the operator.

These and other objects andv advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to those versedi in the art inthe following description of `oneparticular form of the invention as illustratedl in the"accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig.` 1 is a front view in perspective of a brickmolding machine'to Whichfthe invention is apy.'

s s (Cres-104) This invention relates to the ,art of brick l issued July21, 1931, strikes the mold. In this 'bumping operation which isperformed to loosen the clay from the side walls of the mold, there isn0 other place for the clayto go but upwardly -to extend slightly beyondthe top edge of the y vtable `Ill is hinged transversely by any suitablemeans, such as the hinge pin I5, Fig. 3, and is automatically raised andlowered ,between some `such limits as indicated in Fig. 3 by the solidlines to the dash lines and reverse.

In the `form of the invention herein shown, the lowering of the tablesection I4 is accomplished by means of a bar or rod I6 which is looselycarried through ears I1 and I8 xed to `the slide I9` that isreciprocated in fore and aft `directions by any suitable means tooperate the Fig. `2,`altop planview of the mechanism embodying theinvention;

Fig.` 3,! a detail on an enlarged scale in side elevation `and partialsection of the forward end 5 ofthe mold supporting table;

lig.` 4, a detail in transverse section on the lline-t--II inFig. 3;`

Fig. `5, adetailin Vsection'on the line 5445 in Figs; l .i y s n v Fig.6, a ldetail in left-hand side `elevation Fig. 7, a detail in section onthe line f'I-'I in receivingnnger mounting.

Like characters of referenceindicate like parts throughout the severalviews in the drawings,

In the `usual molding machine, 'generally designated by the numeral I0,clay is depositedin the table I2 to a'station wherein thefbumper I3,`one being on each side as indicated in the TJ.` S. Fatent, to PottsfandMinte1f,`N0, 1,615,583,

bumpers I3, an advantage being takenY ofthe reciprocating slide I9already appearing on the brick making machine shown and described in theabove indicated Patent No. 1,815,583. 'Ihe slide I9, just referred to,is a part of the old machine ,to which our-present invention is to beapplied. This slide t9, as indicated in the aforesaid patent, isreciprocated horizontally in timed sequencewith the travel of the brickmolds. This Vthe forward ear I8 to serve as an abutment on the rod IISAagainst which the ear I8 will press and movethe rod I5 as the slide I9moves forwardly.

In order to clear other mechanism found under the table top section I4,the rod I6 is bent around upwardlyfand thence forwardly into a sectionZI which haspivoted thereto'upwardly extending links 23 and 24 anddownwardly extendinglinks 25 and 26. The upper ends ofthe links 23, Marepivotally connected with suitable brackets 21 fixed to the underside ofthe table section I4 and the lower ends Of the links A nur 2o adjustamy25, 26 are pivotally connected with a bracket 28 mounted in a stationarymanner. This structure forms in effect a toggle-joint arrangementwhereby by pushing forwardly on the rod length 2l, the links are rockedfrom vertical positions to the inclined positions as indicated in Fig.3, which action will lower the table top section I4 to the solid lineposition. Then when the slide I9 shifts rearwardly, a spring 29 bearingbetween the rear end of the adjusting screw 30 and the forward end ofthe rod length 2| will return the links to their vertical positions andthereby lift the table back up to that position indicated by the dashlines. 'I'he compression of the spring 29 may be adjusted bymanipulating the screw 3U.

On each side of the table section I4 is secured an arm 3I and 32respectively extending upwardly above the table section I4 and thenceforwardly. A wire 33 is stretched between these arms 3| and 32 andspaced above the top section I4 a distance which, when the table sectionI4 is in its uppermost position, will strike compressively against thetop edges of the mold II. It vis the purpose of hinging the tablesection I4 `as above indicated to drop that section at the time the moldII is being shoved forwardly from the table top I2 from the bumperstation so that the forwardly moving mold. will have its front top edgejust clear the wire 33. The wire is positioned across the top section I4so that when the mold comes to a stop the wire will be then restingimmediately on the forward top edge of the mold and/or slightly forwardof the clay therein. The dropping of the table section I4 prevents themold from striking the wire 33 by its forward side.

The wire 33 is-anchored at one of the arms,

herein shown as at the arm 32, by being passed over a block 34 and thencurved downwardly to have its end fixed in any suitable manner, such asbeing secured to the cross pin 35, Fig. 6. The other end of the wire 33is carried over a like block 36, Figs. Sand 5, to curve downwardly andoutwardly and be engaged with an eyebolt 31 which in turn is secured toa cross pin 38 horizontally positioned between and iixed by its endswith cams 39 and 40, each resting in a hollowed abutment extending fromthe side of the arm, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5. The cams 39 and 43are tied together to be rocked in unison by any suitable means such asthe handle 4I. Thus by rocking the handle 4I around in acounterclockwise direction, the wire 33 is pulled longitudinally acrossthe block 36 to increase its tension and then by swinging the handle 4Ion downwardly to drop the pin 38 below the center line through the cams39 and 4D, that tension is maintained since the upper ends of the handle4I strike against the abutments carrying the cams. In order toadiust'the elevation of the wire 33, both the blocks 34 and 36 may beraised or lowered within limits, the vertical adjusting of the blocksbeing had by some such means as set screws 42 shown in Figs. and 6, tobe carried upwardly against the blocks 34 and 36 to lift them againstthe normal downward pull of the wire 33.

Forwardly of the wire 33 in the direction in which the molds II advance,is positioned means for receiving the clay cut off by the wire 33, thisclay traveling forwardly as the molds travel to deliver this separatedclay onto the receiving device. In the form herein shown, this deviceconsistsv of a plurality of relatively closely spaced fingers-44resembling somewhat the tines of a pitchfork in that the ngers are eachtapered from a relatively thick cross section at their rear ends througha gradually reducing cross section to sharp terminal points and at thesame time bowing downwardly. The rear ends of these fingers 44 aresecured in any suitable manner to a transverse rocker shaft 45, suchmeans herein shown as being by clips 4E engaging around the shaft 45 tocarry clamp bars 4'I over the finger 44 in each instance, Fig. 8, theshaft 45 preferably being engaged to receive the finger 44 thereacrossin each instance. These fingers 44 are thus held in parallel alignmentto have their free pointed ends adjacent the wire 33 and atsubstantially the same elevation as the wire.

Extending transversely across under these fingers 44 is a plate 48mounted between the arms 3I and 32 to prevent crumbs from the ribbon ofclay cut by the wire 33 from dropping downwardly between the fingers 44as that ribbon or-band slides over onto the fingers, This plate 48 isherein shown as being secured to the arms 3l and 32 by bolts 49 and` 5I]extending upwardly from the plate and through brackets 5I and 52respectively fixed on the arms 3| and 32.

The amount of clay cut olf by the wire 33 will vary from time to timedepending upon the condition of the dies in the machine when the clay isplaced into the molds. Since the amount of clay sheared off may be quitesmall at times, a plate I8 is secured across the under sides of thefingers 44 near their rear free ends by any suitable means such as byclips 19. The clips are far enough back from the ends of the fingers 44to prevent interference with the sliding action of the clay onto thesefingers. In any event the plate 'I8 will prevent the clay from droppingdownwardly between the fingers and will insure the carrying of the clayaround tothe discharging zone as will hereinafter be explained.

This rocker shaft 45 is mounted on the arms 3| and 32 and carries at oneend thereof a pinion gear 53, here shown as yadjacent the arm 32. Ajackshaft 54, also carried by the arm 32, has a pinion gear 55 fixedthereon to be in constant mesh with the gear 53. A lever 56 is securedto the shaft 54 outside of the arm 32, Figs. 6 and '7. A connecting rod51 has its forward end rockably secured to the outer end of the lever 56and carried rearwardly and upwardly to be adjustably secured to one endof a bell crank 58 through a link 62 to a sleeve 63 through which therod 6I is free to slide. This rod 6I is a part of the old brick makingmachine, normally reciprocated to actuate other mechanism (not shown) tomove the molds II forwardly on the table I 2' in timed sequence for thebumping operations as referred to in the prior Patent No. 1,815,583.Advantage is takenof this timed reciprocating action of the rod 6I tosecure the desired timing and driving lof the means for receivingthe-clay cut off by the wire 33. This rod 6I is reciprocatedverticallyby cam means (not shown) carried by the brick making machine I. Thespring surrounding the top end of the rod 6I normallyholds and returnsthe rod to its uppermost position; In so far as the present invention isconcerned, it is immaterial as to the exact means employed in the oldmachine for reciprocating the rod and it is further immaterial in so faras the invention is concerned to reverse the action ofthe springv85whereby the upward travel of the rod 6I is by the cam means instead ofby the spring 85 and the downward travel of the rod 6I is occasioned bythe reversed position of the spring. Then by plactently following thefilling of each mold.

ing an adjustable `stop 64 on the rod SII belowthe sleeve B3,-upwardtravel ofthe `rod 6l will cause the stopf64-to strike thesleeve 63 andthereby rockl the bell cranklever 58 and in turn pull back the rod 51 torockthe shaft 45ithrough the gears 55 and 53 to throw up the forwardends of the fingers 44` and carry them around sufficiently far to dumpthe vclay resting thereacross onto an endless belt 65 positionedtransversely across the machine immediately ahead of the shaft 45.

The` rod 6l preferably carries `aniupper adjustably positioned collar Babove thesleeve 63 so that, if necessary, the sleeve 63 may be pusheddownwardly upon the return stroke of the rod 6| so as to insure returnofthe fingers M to their initial, clay-receiving positions rather `thandependrentirely `upon'gravity forthat return;`

The rod 6| is traveling 'throughout the travelv of the molds over thetable l2 and thel front -table end I4, this rod being given an upwardtravel for each shift of these molds; Since it is desiredv to unload thefingers 44 (forming in effect fa basket) immediately one mold travels"under the wire 33 and before the next mold is interval oftime so as tobe ready to receivetlie" sheared-ofl clay immediately the molds areagain shifted.` The molds, of course, are standing still when `they arebeingflled with clay by the machine andonly shiftautomatically andintermit- The belt E5is carried around theend pulleys 66 and 61, Fig; 2.Thepulley 66 is mounted on the forward end of a drive shaft 58 vthat iscarried through suitable bearings 69and 10 mounted on the arms 3l tohave a bevel gear 1l fixed on its rear end and in constantmesh with abevel gear 12 fixed on the transverseshaft 13 that is carried insuitable bearings mounted on the arms 3| and 32. On the outer end of theshaft 13 is a drive pulley 14 about which the drive belt 15 passedrearwardly and upwardly to a shaft 16 on the molding machine, this shaft16 being only employed in driving the molding apparatus. The belt 65isthus driven to carrythe` clay deposit thereon to one side and drop itthereolf.

Thus it is to fbe seen that to the heretofore employed molding machinestructure, we have added thereto a very simple and unique means forstripping the clay protruding above the molds and removing the strippedclay following the cutting off by the cutting wire, all with the minimumnumber of parts and motions. While the invention has been herein shownand described in the one particular form, it is obvious that structuralvariations may be employed without departing from the spirit of theinvention and it is not intended that the invention be limited to thatspecific form beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the followingclaims.

, We claim:

1. In a brick molding machine, a table, molds movable over said table,means for intermittently moving said molds over the table, the forwardend of the table being arranged to be vertically shiftable, means forlowering said forward table end when said molds are being movedthereover and for lifting the table at the endv of' the mold travel,stationary clay cutting means extending across said shiftable end of thetable and spaced thereabove and positioned to have said molds lift andstop thereagainst upon said lifting of the .table end, means receivingclay cut lfrom above said molds by said cutting means, and meansintermittently driven in sequence with said molds for shifting saidreceiving means to dump the clay therefrom.` i

2. In a brickmolding machine, a table, molds movable oversaid table,means for intermittently movingsaid" molds over the table, the forward`end of the. table being arranged to be vertically shiftable, means forlowering said forward table end when said moldsare being moved thereoverand for lifting the table vat the end of the mold travel, clay cuttingmeans extending across the table and spaced thereabove and positioned toJ have said molds stop thereagainst upon said lifting of vthe table end,i means receiving clay cut from above said molds by said cutting means,and means intermittently driven in sequence with said moldsY forshifting said receiving means to dump the clay therefrom, said claycutting` means consisting of. aitightly stretched wire, and said clayreceiving means comprising a rockable shaft and membersextendingtherefrom rearwardly toward said wire.

3. In a brick molding machine, a table, molds movable over said table,means for intermittently movingfsaid molds over the table, the forwardend Vof the table being arranged to be vertically shift- 'able, meansfor lowering said forward table end r.when said'molds are being movedthereover and for lifting the table at the end of the mold travel, claycutting means extending across the table and spaced thereabove and`positioned to have said molds stop thereagainst` upon said lifting ofthe `table end; means receiving clay cut from above said molds by saidcutting means, and means intermittently driven in sequence with saidmolds for shifting saidreceiving means to dump the clay therefrom, saidtableend being hinged to the table at its rear end, said` table endlowering and lifting means comprising a toggle assembly normally urgedto a straight line vertical position by a spring.

4. In abrick molding -machinea table, molds, means intermittentlyshifting themolds over the table, mold bumpers at the sides of thetable,

`and means under the'table for actuating the bumpers as each mold isshifted vand stopped therebetween, a table forward vend-,vertically`shiftable, table end lowering means, a drive connection between saidbumper actuating means and the table end lowering means, means liftingthe table end independently of said drive connection, clay cutting meansmounted to extend across said table end and rest against the top of amold supported by the table end in lifted position to shear off clayprotruding above the mold traveling thereunder, and means receiving thesheared off clay.

5. In a brick molding machine a table, molds, means intermittentlyshifting the molds over the table, mold bumpers at the sides of thetable, and means under the table for actuating the bumpers as each moldis shifted and stopped therebetween, a tableV forward end verticallyshiftable, table end lowering means, a drive connection between saidbumper actuating means and the table end lowering means, means liftingthe table end independently of said drive connection,

clay cutting meansmounted to extend across said table end and restagainst the top of a mold supported by the table end in'lifted positionto shear off clay protruding above the mold traveling thereunder, andmeans receiving the sheared off clay, said table end lifting meansconsisting of a spring, and said drive connection Working in oppositionto the spring.

6. In a brick molding machine, a table, molds,

means intermittently shifting the molds over.-

the table, mold bumpers at the sides of the table, and means under thetable for actuating the bumpers as each mold is shifted and stoppedtherebetween, a table forward end vertically shiftable, table endlowering means, a drive connection between said bumper actuating meansand the table -end lowering means, means lifting the table endindependently of said drive connection, clay cutting means mounted toextend across said table end and rest against the top` of a moldsupported by the table end in lifted position to shear offclayprotruding above the mold traveling thereunder, and means receiving lthesheared off clay, said receiving means comprising a rockable basket, andmeans driven intermittently by said machine to dump said basketsubstantially at the end of each mold travel on the table.

7. In a brick molding machine, a table, molds movable over said table,means for intermittently moving said molds over the table, the forwardend of the table being arranged to be vertically shiftable, means forlowering said forward table end when said molds are being movedthereover and for lifting the table at the end of the mold travel, claycutting means extending across the table and spaced thereabove andpositioned to have said molds stop thereagainst upon said lifting of thetable end, means receiving clay cut from above said molds by saidcutting means, and means intermittently driven in sequence with saidmolds for shifting said receiving means to dump the clay therefrom, saidclay cutting means consisting of a tightly stretched Wire, and said clayreceiving means comprising a rockable shaft and members extendingtherefrom rearwardly toward said wire, said clay receiving means memberscomprising spaced apart rods.

8. In a brick molding machine, a table, molds movable over said table,means for intermittently moving said molds over the table, the forwardend of the table being arranged to be vertically shiftable, means forlowering said forward table end when said molds are being movedthereover and for lifting the table at the end of the mold travel, claycutting means extending across the table and spaced thereabove andpositioned to have said molds stop thereagainst upon said lifting of thetable end, means receiving clay cut from above said molds by saidcutting means, and means intermittently driven in sequence with saidmolds for shifting said receiving means to dump the clay therefrom, saidclay cutting means consisting of a tightly stretched wire, and said clayreceiving means comprising a rockable shaft and members extendingtherefrom rearwardly toward said wire, said clay receiving means memberscomprising spaced apart rods veach'downwardly curved and reducing incrosssectional area toward its rear end.

9. In a brick molding machine, a table, molds, means intermittentlyshifting the molds over the table, mold bumpers at the sides of thetable, and means under the table for actuating the bumpers as each moldis shifted and stopped therebetween, a table forward end verticallyshiftable, table'end lowering means, a drive connection between saidbumper actuating means and the table end lowering means, means liftingthe table end independently of said drive connection, clay cutting meansmounted to extend across said table end and rest against the top of amold supported by the table end in lifted position to shear off clayprotruding abovethe mold traveling thereunder, and means receiving thesheared off clay, said receiving means cornprising a rockable basket,and means driven intermittently by said machine to dump said basketsubstantially at the end of each mold travel on the table, and aconveyor belt extending transversely across and above the level of saidtable, over which belt said basket is turned to dump thereon.

lO. In a brick molding machine, a table, molds, means for movingthegmolds across the table, clay cutting means extending across thetable and spaced in fixed position thereabove for trimming surplus clayfrom the molds, and table lowering and raising means intermittentlyincreasing and decreasing the spacing relatively between the table andthe cutting means in accordance with travel of the molds.

11. In a brick molding machine, a table, molds, means for moving themolds across the table, clay cutting means extending across the tableand spaced in fixed position thereabove for trimming surplus clay fromthe molds, and table lowering and raising means intermittentlyincreasing and decreasing the spacing relatively between the table andthe cutting means in accordance with travel of the molds, and meansreceiving said clay as trimmed and removing it.

FREDERICK M. ANTIBUS, JR. HARRY D. CAYLOR.

